I feel icky too: bloated and icky. There are no other words for it. My legs hurt too... I think i was doing something wrong in pilates the other day and now I am paying for it.

Grrr..... Low-carbin' it next few days here in NY to see if I can get these few extra pounds off.

I think I might need a whole Phase 1 reset sometime soon.

I went crazy during the holiday's with replenishing my closet! It felt so awesome to try on item after item and have it fit AND look good to boot. I am pretty much size 4 across the board, with a couple of 2's and 6's thrown in the mix.

While I am still struggling with my emotions (and how to deal with them) when the scale says something other than what I think it should, all of my clothes still fit great and the same. I need to change the way I think and use that as a guide line and not tie my mood to the number on the scale.

Why doesn't anyone talk about how hard it is to change the way you think and view yourself? I mean, besides us I never realized what a mental challenge maintenance would be and how hard it is to not think like my "fat self" and how to actually live and not be "on a diet". I am working on it every day, but I am still a long way from where I would like to be... I may have hit my goal weight, but I am still working on my goal. Which is to be happy and satisfied with myself. Sometimes I look in the mirror and still see myself at 170. I would like to like what I see, each and everytime I look in the mirror

checking in to see how everyone is doing. Hope you are all well. Today is 10 months since I started maintenance...boy oh boy every day it is on my mind. I feel I should be doing phase 1, but I resist it so much. I was up 10 pounds last step on the scale...about 10 days ago.

Darbs, it seems like a lot of us are in a "struggle" phase lately. Getting back on track after the holiday's, trying to take off a few pounds or simply trying to manage this thing called Maintenance.

I would venture to say you are not alone in your thoughts of hitting P1 or your resistance to do so It's kind of like "what you don't know won't hurt you". When we first did P1, ignorance was bliss. We were so happy to have a plan and have it work. But once you reach the other side and know about maintenance and the glorious breakfasts and so forth, it is extremely difficult to go back. At least that is the way I feel.

Ha, I am with you both on this one. In fact, my size 6 pants feel snug today and that's really not happened in a very long time. I am super stressed today b/c of work. Maybe I'll just sit here and drink coffee...

Jenny and Pxl I lol'd at your posts. Isn't it awesome we can come to our friends on 3FC and vent about TOM!

Darbs I resisted P1 too, but I did it and it was worth it!

Some more thoughts from reboot/reset...I dreaded it because I didn't want to be hungry. Sure enough, I have been hungry quite a lot of the time It has been enlightening though. One thing I rememebered from the first time around is that when I completed P3 last time, I didn't want to eat anything that wasn't 100% worth it. I only wanted to eat the best foods, not just any old thing. I'm trying to figure out how to stay mindful of that. The first time on maintenance, I resisted following a free day with a P1 day but perhaps there are mental benefits to following a free day with a P1 day...(1) on my "free" day, I know I will be paying for it the next day so I might choose my free foods more carefully, and (2) the weekly P1 day will remind me not to take food for granted.

Also, I've been reading a lot about diets and nutrition. One trainer divides diets into "transformational" mode and " sustainability" mode. Diets that have both are the most effective physically and mentally. IP has both, but IMHO it would be a more successful diet overall if they gave us more guidelines for success in sustainability mode. That's what we are all doing here in Maintainers, teying to figure out what is sustainable for each of us.

Tried on some more size 6's. They all fit, but some were a little tight in the rear. I don't care...I'm officially calling myself a size 6! I didn't buy anything though. I'm having a little trouble identifying my style now that I get to buy a new wardrobe. It's a nice problem to have.

Have a great Friday everyone!

Wow, you have done an amazing job. Our stats are very similar but my journey is just beginning. I read through the mainainers occasionally to remind myself to work through the eating problems now because maintaining is just as hard!

I can understand how it is hard to see yourself as thin but wow, you are! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

Moving on to Maintenance/P4 tomorrow and even though I've been reading and reading I'm still a bit nervous but excited too. I lost 2.6 pounds on my second week of P3 so I have a little leeway which is good. I just want to continue to make good choices. It's great to be able to come here cause I relate to so much of what you guys feel. So thank you!

Oh has anyone tried this pasta called Dreamfields? I'm off to buy some now - they claim to have only 5 "digestible carbs" per serving.

Have a great weekend all!

HI guys, It's official I am on maintenance and am scared s*&^less. I have been on it for a week and find my self getting looser and looser. Do you all keep a food journal? If so does it help keep you on track?

Congratulations and welcome to maintenance!! You've done a great job!!

I have tried Dreamfield's and it tastes just like regular pasta. I don't quite get the 5 digestible carb claim. If you add up all the fat, carb and protein calories per serving, it equals 210 calories. There are 41 carbs per serving and if you only digest 5 of those, 36 carbs or 144 calories should not be in the calorie count per serving yet a single serving is listed as 190 calories. I guess I need to read more about it.

I like Fiber Gourmet Pasta. It's more expensive and I have to order it on-line but it has 18 grams of fiber per serving and the calories per 2 ounce (dry) serving reflects that those carbs aren't digested (130 calories). That does leave 24 grams of digestible carbs per serving so I really don't know which brand is better for you. I do have to say that all that fiber keeps me full and moving, if you know what I mean.

Yay!! You did it.

I think most of us track our food. Myfitnesspal and fatsecret are free on-line sites many of us use.

darbs, Jenny, Lee, Pxl, Sunny- I am so right there with all of you. I have now been in maintenance for 1 year. I am 5 lbs over my goal weight. Could be worse but 5 pounds a year will add up quickly. Trying to get back to my goal weight but like so many, I have a lot of starts & stops. I am still determined not to be overweight ever again so I will continue to work hard at this. The one thing I have kept up, which has probably saved me, is pilates. I still go to class 3-4 times per week.

Have a great weekend and know that though I don't post often, I am here almost everyday. You all keep me honest!

Lynn

Love, LOVE, LOVE pilates. I am so much stronger and have better posture because of it. Glad to know you are lurking, Lynn.

I totally agree! But it's good we have other strugglers to talk it all out with and people to motivate us to get back on it. Unlike before IP, when we would just wallow in it and keep eating badly.


Congrats!!! Welcome! And Some people use Fat Secret, and some use My.Fitness.Pal. I think tracking is key because if you don't track, there's nothing to keep you accountable (says the girl who hasn't tracked in 4 days).


Yay!! You did it.

I think most of us track our food. Myfitnesspal and fatsecret are free on-line sites many of us use.

Why doesn't anyone talk about how hard it is to change the way you think and view yourself? I mean, besides us I never realized what a mental challenge maintenance would be and how hard it is to not think like my "fat self" and how to actually live and not be "on a diet".

Jenny..I think our bodies haved changed to being normal and thin..but like you say we still have to deal with past images of being a "fat girl". Sometimes I see myself as totally perfect..othertimes I think..I look thin. Othertimes I look at myself and wonder, can this really be me..and can I really stay this thin? Right now I do not see myself as fat. However, I can feel fat if I am too full..or if the scale is up a pound or two. Or I can jump into fears that I will gain this weight back.. What I would like is to feel totally secure that I can keep this weight off.

I do not feel that I am on a diet. I feel like I am eating planned meals and will probably always have to do so. However, I love my meals! If I go up a pound I might have a P1 breakfast..but do not do P1 the whole day..just p2 meals.

This is month 5 of maintenance..Hooray. I am 1 pound under 128..I am staying in a 3 lb range. I have increased my intensity levels on my workout..so I wonder if I am burning more calories?

Cajun and Pixl..hope your bodies are cooperating and you are feeling better.

Lynn..I am going to track down that pasta..someday I may have to cut back on my online ordering..but I am enjoying it while I can.

Calypso and Tracy..congratulations and welcome to Phase 4.

Lee...Size 6 is so nice.. You are doing it. I am not sure of my style either..just keep getting colors!

Darbs: 10 months of maintenance is excellent..I wish you luck on getting those 10 pounds off..but you are still maintaining and inspirational!

I found this blog interesting.
I have never really had what I would consider a healthy relationship with food. But knowledge is power, and I now know more about nutrition and portion control. And over the past year or so, I have learned how to consciously make healthy choices about food.

However, even though I lead a healthy lifestyle NOW and have managed to lose 100 pounds, I am still totally, completely, UTTERLY OBSESSED with food!



Seriously, when I am not eating I am THINKING about eating. I sometimes feel like I spend nearly every waking minute focused on my next meal. I even experience a mourning sensation at the end of the day when I know I won't eat again until the following day.

I suppose, in some ways I romanticized the notion of losing weight. Part of me actually believed that when I became thin I would also begin thinking "thin." In other words, I would relate to food like a person without a weight problem.

But that was a fantasy, really.

I mean, just because I reached my goal weight does not mean I am a completely different person. I have changed in many ways, but underneath I am still the same food-obsessed person I was before I lost the weight (I just obsess about healthy food now). The real difference now is how I react to those impulses.

At the end of the day, this is a journey, and I still have much more to explore and discover. Although I HOPE this obsession will fade over time, I accept it may NEVER end.

But I will never surrender, never give up, never give in. The stakes are way too high to ever return to the place I was before.

>>> I like the line..that when I became thin, I thought I would automatically relate to food like a person who has never had a weight problem.

Has anyone seen Pauley around?? I havent been on the boards for a while, But Just wanted to see how she was doing in Maintance!!